[Exchange of Prisoners at Vicksburg]. Fair Copy of Napoleon J. T.
Dana Orders Detailing the Exchange of Prisoners at Vicksburg...

Description

[Exchange of Prisoners at Vicksburg]. Fair Copy of Napoleon J.
T. Dana Orders Detailing the Exchange of Prisoners at Vicksburg
Signed. Three integral pages, 7.75" x 9.75", Vicksburg, April
14, 1865. On April 14, 1865, the day that Lincoln was assassinated,
Union General Napoleon J. T. Dana issued orders from Vicksburg
stating "...that the Confederate Agents of Exchange at this
point, agree to permit the prisoners now encamped near this city,
to go to such places as the United States may direct, upon parole
of honor, not to serve against the Confederate States in any
Military or constabulary capacity until regularly exchanged..."
and further "...That they have been induced to this action by
the following telegraphic dispatches from Lieut. Gen. Grant...and
Col. Robert Ould [?] Chief of Exchange Bureau,
C.S.A..."

What follows is a copy of the telegraph from Grant, dated April 9,
the day of Lee's surrender at Appomattox, to General Napoleon J. T.
Dana stating that "...all settlements for exchanged prisoners
were to be made with Col Ould...and the agreement to receive them
at various points was for the accomodation [sic] of
the South...Say to the officer who has our prisoners for deliver,
that any that are due to the South, will be delivered at
Vicksburg." Directly below Grant's telegraph appears a similar
dispatch from Col. Ould ordering the "...Confederate officer
having charg [sic] if [sic]
Prisoners [sic] Vicksburg..." that "...All
Federal officers and men who are held as by the Confederate
authorities must be delivered at Vicksburg or any other point where
the Federal Military authorities are willing to receive
them."

The orders further state that "...paroled prisoners under this
agreement furloughed home, while observing the terms upon which
their paroles are given, are not to be captured by the United
States, or Confederate forces, so long as the conform to the
law." Separation along the vertical fold and small holes that
the fold intersections. Light toning with small areas of soiling.